The Most EPIC Pre-Trip Report - Group PTR for 2019!! List of TRIP REPORTS added

[pepperandchips]

There are quite a few of us with DVC, but some of them were via resale, although they say they have the blue colored card which is the card I have, and that's the card I used to get into the Epcot lounge with no problem. So I don't think Top of the World would be an issue unless they will deny us due to space constraints. I checked their rules out once and it said members can bring in guests who are "staying with them". But a friend of mine brought us up with no issues and we definitely weren't on the same reservation

Even we lowly second class citizen purchasers get Top of the World Lounge access

We might need to stagger our entry instead of coming in as a group of 15-20 but we could probably get everyone in

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Even we lowly second class citizen purchasers get Top of the World Lounge access

That would be soooooo fun!!!

 

[chunkymonkey]

OK, I'm all booked!!!!!!!!! There's no turning back...

Dates: May 2-6

Resorts: May 2-3 Art of Animation (Little Mermaid Room) I was unable to book Pop (Preferred, Pool View). Only standard rooms were available and I wanted the beautiful view @chunkymonkey just had...
May 3-6 Wilderness Lodge (Courtyard View)

Tickets: 3 Day Hopper
My husband, Joe will be joining me on this little adventure, but he will be doing his own thing while I'm with the gals... We will be spending time in St. Pete before and after Disney...
I'm so excited!!!!

Yay Jenny!! So excited!! That sounds amazing!

I wanted to seal this all inspiring, earth shattering color of gray for my contributions to this PTR

I looked at flights for 5/1-5/7 and much better priced then the shorter trip I originally was planning. I am tentatively planning those above dates and resort is still a mystery at this point. I may do a tour since I will be on my own.

If anyone else wants to do one we could plan this as well. I would say I am 90% sure of my travel plans at this time, yay!

Yay we are roughly gonna be there those dates too! Maybe a day shorter though, but everyone seems to be extending their trip...

Even we lowly second class citizen purchasers get Top of the World Lounge access

We might need to stagger our entry instead of coming in as a group of 15-20 but we could probably get everyone in

YESSS!!! We can do it!!
This sounds like a fun post-ohana monorail crawl type shindig ending with a viewing of HEA from Top of the World...

That would be soooooo fun!!!

It does sound like a fun plan right? I have never seen HEA from there yet. I may do it in Sept!

 

[disney-inspired]

[QUOTE="chunkymonkey, post: 59499918, member: 240183"


Oh wow that is amazing! What sort of stuff do you guys do at DLR?
You'll need to help out the east coast chapter as this is our inaugural girls trip and we've never done one before! I hope we know what we're getting ourselves into!
[/QUOTE]

They like to plan sit down meals and some group rides but after that people are pretty much left to their own choices. The roommates I stayed with the first year have been my roommates for the past 10 - still hard to believe. I was the youngest person at the first meet (18 yo). It’s amazing that some of my longest friendships have come from that trip.

My biggest piece of advice - don’t overly schedule the group events, it get so to be tiring after awhile. While TS are nice, they’re harder with a group.

If you can - those free tours are fun too or the boats tours - much more affordable with a group .

We were lucky and had a few who were Disney employees so we got to go to Company D.

 

[Lesley Wake]

So...I may be about to buy a bunch of T-shirts for the trip! I'm not going to show anyone them until we get there, but if my previous TR's have demonstrated, they're pretty awesome!

 

[cinderkelly]

@chunkymonkey have you decided where you are staying yet?

@Steppesister I’m so happy you are in for sure! I hope I get to spend more than 10 minutes with you this time

Just curious what is our # for confirmed peeps so far?

I’m already stressing that I’m going to miss out on a lot of group stuff just because it’s more of DD’s trip that happened to work out on these dates. I’m going to do what I can though I vote that we do this again sometime, maybe every couple of years.. so I can for sure participate in most things. Suggesting this purely for selfish reasons on course .

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[chunkymonkey]

They like to plan sit down meals and some group rides but after that people are pretty much left to their own choices. The roommates I stayed with the first year have been my roommates for the past 10 - still hard to believe. I was the youngest person at the first meet (18 yo). It’s amazing that some of my longest friendships have come from that trip.

My biggest piece of advice - don’t overly schedule the group events, it get so to be tiring after awhile. While TS are nice, they’re harder with a group.

If you can - those free tours are fun too or the boats tours - much more affordable with a group .

We were lucky and had a few who were Disney employees so we got to go to Company D.

Thank you! This is good advice. I think not everyone will do all of the group meals. I think our main group event would be the walk around the World.
That is awesome you have made such good friends on these trips as well! I have known people on the DIS since 2009 and we've met up from time to time. Disney brings many people together!
So cool you knew some castmembers. We need one of those in our group, LOL!

So...I may be about to buy a bunch of T-shirts for the trip! I'm not going to show anyone them until we get there, but if my previous TR's have demonstrated, they're pretty awesome!

Oooooooooohhhhhh what?!?!?
Soft porgs?

@chunkymonkey have you decided where you are staying yet?

I have a reservation for the Swan right now using SPG points, so I think I'll just keep that until I decide if we want to actually pay for a Disney resort. I think it also depends on what my sister can afford as usually she wants to go with the cheapest option, LOL. I may use DVC points but don't really want to stay at the Poly the entire time, maybe a split stay. I'd love to do Beach Club or Boardwalk but doubt there would be anything left at the 7 month mark!

Just curious what is our # for confirmed peeps so far?

Right now there are 30 people in our FB group, but out of those I think about 18 of us are like almost definitely YES I'm going, a handful are probably going, and the rest are Maybes so I am expecting between 20-25 people?

I’m already stressing that I’m going to miss out on a lot of group stuff just because it’s more of DD’s trip that happened to work out on these dates. I’m going to do what I can though I vote that we do this again sometime, maybe every couple of years.. so I can for sure participate in most things. Suggesting this purely for selfish reasons on course .

Have a great weekend everyone!

Aww don't worry about it Kelly! I think a lot of us are going to break off and do things in smaller groups anyways. I know not everyone wants to go to a character meal like at Al Forno and not everyone wants to watch the SW fireworks but some of us do, so I think the big event will be the Epcot eat and drink around the world and maybe brunch the next day, and then I think people will start to leave. I think it would be cool though if we all could go to Top of the World to watch HEA from there, maybe after Ohana on the 3rd. What time were you planning on coming in that day?

 

[Jenny Sanders]

@chunkymonkey Do you have the itinerary so far??? Since I'm not part of the FB group, I feel I may be missing a few things...

 

[Lesley Wake]

Oooooooooohhhhhh what?!?!?
Soft porgs?

No porgs yet, haha! (Oh and I was just getting some for myself to wear, not a huge group thing - don't know if we wanted to be quite like that!)

Aww don't worry about it Kelly! I think a lot of us are going to break off and do things in smaller groups anyways. I know not everyone wants to go to a character meal like at Al Forno and not everyone wants to watch the SW fireworks but some of us do, so I think the big event will be the Epcot eat and drink around the world and maybe brunch the next day, and then I think people will start to leave. I think it would be cool though if we all could go to Top of the World to watch HEA from there, maybe after Ohana on the 3rd. What time were you planning on coming in that day?

I agree, I think there could be a lot of smaller groups doing what floats their boat! And it may be too hard to even fit everyone into some places! It could be fun though to try and get FEA FPs that line up, so we take over a couple boats!

 

[chunkymonkey]

I agree, I think there could be a lot of smaller groups doing what floats their boat! And it may be too hard to even fit everyone into some places! It could be fun though to try and get FEA FPs that line up, so we take over a couple boats!

Yes, this way to the Chunky Boat...!!! Buahaha
If I have chunky boats, that's an EMPIRE! Hahaha

 

[chunkymonkey]

@chunkymonkey Do you have the itinerary so far??? Since I'm not part of the FB group, I feel I may be missing a few things...

We have a temporary itinerary. Ill share it once I get it more finalized. I'm working with Billie to organize the schedule.
But so far we're thinking on the 3rd - early meet up a Trader Sams. Then 4 or 5pm welcome dinner at OHAHA. After that perhaps a monorail crawl ending at the Contemporary and watching HEA at Top of the Lounge. I think each DVC member can take up a few at a time just so it's not a mad rush.
Saturday the 4th we were thinking of doing a character breakfast but it may only be a few of us, some people wanted to check out the May the 4th items and activities they have over at DHS. Then towards the afternoon we all meet up in Epcot and walk and drink and eat around the world. This will probably last the whole afternoon/evening. Then some people wanted to head back to DHS to watch the SW fireworks. The rest can probably watch illuminations and head to Jellyrolls. Then after SW fireworks we'd meet them there. The next day, the 5th, we'd probably do brunch at California Grill. And then some people will probably have to leave so we'll play it by ear. May head over to Coronado for drinks for Cinco de Mayo or something like that. Everything is kinda open. Oh I do want to organize a lunch at Tiffins but maybe outside of the weekend, like the Monday, the 6th. That's the day we have to leave and it'll be nice to have a meal at my favorite before I leave!

What are some things you'd like to do Jenny?

 

[chunkymonkey]

No porgs yet, haha! (Oh and I was just getting some for myself to wear, not a huge group thing - don't know if we wanted to be quite like that!)

Haha I think not everyone would be gung ho about the t shirts. but I think someone said they could get pins made. Even my sister can make them.

 

[fallonkendra]

No porgs yet, haha! (Oh and I was just getting some for myself to wear, not a huge group thing - don't know if we wanted to be quite like that!)


I agree, I think there could be a lot of smaller groups doing what floats their boat! And it may be too hard to even fit everyone into some places! It could be fun though to try and get FEA FPs that line up, so we take over a couple boats!

We would have a decent sized group for Soarin’ too haha!

 

[fallonkendra]

I know I claimed a colour, but I can’t remember what one it was now...

I still have nothing booked, but I might have submitted a request to rent DVC points for some of the days we’re thinking about being there...

As of right now, my husband and I are looking at May 1-11. This would be our 10th Disney trip together since 2015, and would probably be our last one for a few years (we said that on our wedding trip and have already been to Disneyland once and have two WDW trips in planning stages ) - but I really think this might be it for us until 2022 or so. So we’re going to make the most of it if we do end up being able to pull this off!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

We have a temporary itinerary. Ill share it once I get it more finalized. I'm working with Billie to organize the schedule.
But so far we're thinking on the 3rd - early meet up a Trader Sams. Then 4 or 5pm welcome dinner at OHAHA. After that perhaps a monorail crawl ending at the Contemporary and watching HEA at Top of the Lounge. I think each DVC member can take up a few at a time just so it's not a mad rush.
Saturday the 4th we were thinking of doing a character breakfast but it may only be a few of us, some people wanted to check out the May the 4th items and activities they have over at DHS. Then towards the afternoon we all meet up in Epcot and walk and drink and eat around the world. This will probably last the whole afternoon/evening. Then some people wanted to head back to DHS to watch the SW fireworks. The rest can probably watch illuminations and head to Jellyrolls. Then after SW fireworks we'd meet them there. The next day, the 5th, we'd probably do brunch at California Grill. And then some people will probably have to leave so we'll play it by ear. May head over to Coronado for drinks for Cinco de Mayo or something like that. Everything is kinda open. Oh I do want to organize a lunch at Tiffins but maybe outside of the weekend, like the Monday, the 6th. That's the day we have to leave and it'll be nice to have a meal at my favorite before I leave!

What are some things you'd like to do Jenny?

That all sounds wonderful!! I'm pretty much up for anything.
Trader Sams sounds great because I've never been there...
I'm always up for a monorail crawl.
Would love to watch HEA from Top of the Lounge.
I'd most likely skip HS.
I LOVE brunch at Cali Grill, so count me in. I have reservations there in October.
I'd also love to try Tiffins, because again, I've never been.

As for what I'd like to do...anything!!!! I'll be in Disney with a group of wonderful ladies!!!!!

 

[kastoney]

OK, I'm all booked!!!!!!!!! There's no turning back...

WOOHOO!!!!!!

If anyone else wants to do one we could plan this as well. I would say I am 90% sure of my travel plans at this time, yay!

I probably won't make a final decision until after the 1st of the year, but if I do go I'll be solo and would love to do a tour. I haven't done one since I was in high school

 

[Jenny Sanders]

WOOHOO!!!!!!

That's what I said!!! Kari where are you thinking about staying????

 

[kastoney]

That's what I said!!! Kari where are you thinking about staying????

Haven't gotten that far yet. Still trying to figure out if I can sneak off to Disney without Casey and how many years of therapy that will take her to get over

 

[disneyAndi14]

Haven't gotten that far yet. Still trying to figure out if I can sneak off to Disney without Casey and how many years of therapy that will take her to get over

I went to Arizona without the kids once when they were little, I said I had a work conference, lol! They did find out I was just lounging and doing adult fun things and I have never lived it down. They both are adults now and still bring it up.

 

[suse66]

See what happens when I am at the cottage without wifi!!! That trip sounds amazing and if there was any way I could get a few days off school to join you all, I would be all over it. Sounds like so much fun!